Physician, Medical Director, Patient Experience (San Francisco, CA)

Opportunity Information

The Medical Director of Patient Experience provides physician leadership to advance a culture of exceptional patient-centered care across the medical group. This role partners with operational leaders, physician chiefs, and clinic medical directors to improve the patient experience across ambulatory settings while aligning efforts with organizational quality, access, and service goals.

The Medical Director champions initiatives that enhance communication, patient engagement, care coordination, and service excellence. Through collaboration, coaching, and data-driven improvement strategies, this role supports clinicians and care teams in delivering consistently high-quality patient experiences.

Role is 0.2 FTE administrative/0.8 FTE clinical

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Provide physician leadership for patient experience strategy across the medical group.

• Partner with operational leaders to implement system-wide service excellence initiatives.

• Support development of standards, policies, and best practices that promote patient-centered care.

• Identify opportunities to improve the patient journey across access, care delivery, and follow-up.

Clinical Engagement & Culture

• Serve as a physician champion for patient-centered care and service excellence.

• Partner with Chiefs and Medical Directors to promote provider engagement in patient experience initiatives.

• Support development of a culture of empathy, communication excellence, and responsiveness to patient needs.

• Lead peer-to-peer engagement and coaching to support improvement in patient experience metrics.

Performance Improvement

• Monitor and interpret patient experience data (e. g., CAHPS, Press Ganey, or equivalent surveys).

• Collaborate with clinical and operational leaders to address performance gaps and implement improvement plans.

• Support implementation of best practices that improve patient communication, care coordination, and service reliability.

• Promote integration of patient experience goals with quality, safety, and operational performance initiatives.

Provider Coaching & Development

• Provide physician-to-physician coaching related to communication, professionalism, and patient engagement.

• Partner with Chiefs and Medical Directors to support performance feedback when patient experience concerns arise.

• Contribute to training and educational programs focused on communication skills and patient-centered care.

Growth & Innovation

• Support innovative approaches to improving patient experience, including digital tools, access improvements, and care navigation models.

• Collaborate with population health and care delivery teams to enhance continuity and coordination of care.

Collaboration & Communication

• Maintain strong partnerships with physician leadership, clinic operations, nursing leadership, and patient experience teams.

• Communicate patient experience priorities, trends, and improvement strategies across the medical group.

• Represent physician leadership in system-level patient experience initiatives when appropriate.

Qualifications

• MD or DO with active board certification in an applicable specialty.

• Active member of the medical staff or eligibility for appointment.

• Minimum of 5 years of clinical practice experience.

• Demonstrated interest or experience in patient experience, quality improvement, or physician leadership.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and facilitation skills.

Join Us and Enjoy

Sutter West Bay Medical Group provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your professional growth, financial well-being, and work-life balance:

Medical Coverage: Begins on day one, with multiple plan options starting as low as $0-$50 per month; includes coverage for domestic partners

• Dental & Vision: 100% employer-paid coverage
• Retirement: 8% employer-funded profit-sharing contribution up to IRS maximums-no employee contribution required
• Malpractice Insurance: Tail coverage included
• Continuing Medical Education: $6,000 annual CME allowance
• Relocation & Support: Relocation assistance and access to professional development resources
• Technology: Fully integrated EPIC EMR across both clinic and hospital settings

Professional Development: Opportunities for teaching, research, innovation, mentorship, leadership, and community engagement

Organization Details

Why Sutter Health and Sutter West Bay Medical Group (SWBMG)

Sutter Health offers a uniquely physician-aligned environment, large enough to support innovation and investment, yet local enough to preserve the autonomy, relationships, and purpose that matter to clinicians.

SWBMG is a premier multi-specialty medical group made up of nearly 500 clinicians practicing in the greater San Francisco service area. SWBMG works in partnership with Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation (SPMF), a non-profit organization providing care through its affiliation with SWBMG.

Physicians work as a team to provide patient-focused care that encourages a sense of teamwork. SPMF provides physicians with an administrative infrastructure, allowing physicians to focus on patient care.

Why This Matters for You

• Joining Sutter means more than stepping into a role - it's an opportunity to:
• Be part of a forward-thinking program shaping the future of care
• Practice in a system investing heavily in innovation, technology, and growth
• Contribute to expanding access to world-class neurological services in San Francisco
• Build your career within a modern, collaborative, and evolving care environment

Be Part of What's Next

If you're looking to combine meaningful clinical work with innovation and growth, this is your opportunity to make an impact.

Community Information

Living in San Francisco

San Francisco offers a unique combination of professional opportunity, intellectual energy, and quality of life for physicians drawn to innovation and impact.

As a global hub for healthcare innovation, life sciences, and research, the city attracts forward-thinking clinicians and collaborators shaping the future of medicine. Its strong academic environment and commitment to equity and access create a compelling setting for advancing healthcare.

Outside of work, San Francisco offers an exceptional lifestyle, with world-class dining, arts, and culture alongside easy access to Northern California's natural beauty, from coastal trails to wine country. The region's diverse communities support both personal fulfillment and professional growth.

Equal Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Sutter Health and its partners to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of basis of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, registered domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin (including possession of a driver's license issued to individuals who did not present proof of authorized presence in the U.S.), age, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or protected veteran status, political affiliation, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition, genetic information or any other characteristic made unlawful by local, state or federal law, ordinance or regulation.

We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within each medical group, company, hospital, department, and service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of Sutter's employment policies and practices.